Obama Finds Unlikely Allies, Foes Over Syria Strikes

Strange bedfellows abound as President Barack Obama tries to rally support for potential military strikes in Syria, with some unlikely allies backing the White House and several left-leaning groups dissenting.

MoveOn.org, which usually supports the president, is mobilizing members to oppose intervention and running a television ad stating its disagreement with Mr. Obama. Organizing for Action, the group spun off from the president's own re-election effort to promote his agenda in office, is sitting out the fight.

By contrast, Stephen Hadley, who served as national-security adviser to President George W. Bush, backs military force in Syria. When Mr. Hadley stated his position in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Mr. Obama's national-security adviser, Susan Rice, highlighted his remarks on Twitter.

The Obama administration also received an offer of help from Sheldon Adelson, the casino mogul who spent about $100 million on Republican campaigns last year. In an interview with National Journal, the influential GOP donor, who is known for promoting policy that supports Israel, said he supports the push for military action and would be willing to help the president build support in Congress.

The surprising lines of demarcation show how the crisis in Syria has scrambled the usual political calculus, dividing both political parties and pitting those who usually play on the same team against each other. Although the president has asked Congress to set aside, for now, his request to authorize force against Syria, he continues to press the case for the use of military strikes as an option if diplomatic efforts fail.

Mr. Obama would surely lose a vote on military force in the House, and possibly the Senate, if it were held today. With opponents and proponents scattered across the political spectrum, the White House won't be able to rely on its traditional support base if a vote proceeds later. Instead, the administration will need to cobble together a mix of sometime critics and Democratic loyalists.

For the Obama-aligned groups that have parted ways with the president on the issue of Syria, the decision wasn't necessarily an easy one. "We feel anguished about being forced into this place," said Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action, the advocacy arm of MoveOn. But a survey of the group's members revealed strong opposition to strikes.

The group is running a TV spot on MSNBC urging Congress to reject a resolution authorizing force. MoveOn.org also has joined forces with other left-leaning groups, including Credo and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, to hold vigils across the U.S. opposing intervention in Syria.

A senior administration official said resistance, even from reliable allies, isn't a surprise, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left many Americans wary of new military entanglements. But the administration has been trying to make its best argument to a range of advocacy groups, the official said.

Organizing for Action, the fundraising and advocacy group that emerged from Mr. Obama's re-election campaign, is sending informational emails to its members while not taking a position on the issue. In a recent conference call with supporters, Jon Carson, the group's executive director, said he appreciated hearing feedback about Syria and encouraged people to learn more about the issue.

"OFA supports President Obama and the agenda that Americans voted for on November 6, but we don't always actively organize around every issue," he said.

The White House had hoped the president's speech Tuesday night would help marshal support for possible military action, but his remarks were met with continued resistance from some Democratic-leaning groups.

"No matter how much we trust President Obama, Democracy for America members are skeptical of his argument that any military intervention in Syria would require 'modest effort and risk,' " said Jim Dean, the chairman of Democracy for America.

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